wedding and money-

There are a lot tradition we follow as we do "weddings". Some tradition are pagan and some are biblical. 
Did you know that The Bride maids tradition is actually a pagan tradition-The role of the bridesmaid dates back to pagan times, when evil spirits were thought to attend wedding ceremonies. By surrounding the bride with “look‐a‐likes” it was thought the bad spirits wouldn’t be able to single out the bride. Some are tradition made up by people, for example, its an American tradition that the Bride pays for the wedding, however, i found that un biblical. In Genesis, when Rebekah was being chosen to be the bride for Isaac, they put on
gold rings on her nose and gold bracelets on her arms, and they gave her camel to ride on ...
its about honoring the bride.
I feel bad for the person who did not feel honored in her own wedding 50 years ago, she is trying to pass it down to the next generation by holding her belt tight and not giving the bride a dime nor any gift. She is wrapped in her own little world and its sad.  I am glad she doesn't have a daughter, or else her daughter should feel really neglected and unloved.

^{Genesis 6:47} “I asked her, ‘Whose daughter are you?’

“She said, ‘The daughter of Bethuel son of Nahor, whom Milkah bore to him.’

“Then I put the ring in her nose and the bracelets on her arms, ⁴⁸ and I bowed down and worshiped the Lord. I praised the Lord, the God of my master Abraham, who had led me on the right road to get the granddaughter of my master’s brother for his son. ⁴⁹ Now if you will show kindness and faithfulness to my master, tell me; and if not, tell me, so I may know which way to turn.”

Which bride wouldn't want to be to honored, the point is not the gold bracelets, or the nose ring, its about knowing that the Lord chosen this special bride for one's beloved son, the giving of the gold jewelries are a symbol of acceptance and honoring Rebekah, for she has proven to be the rightful and Godly wife for Isaac.

also, i have been thinking about the gift we received from the wedding
and i believe this is what i suppose to do. based the scripture.
I was a bit hesitant to give 20% but now i think its something we must do to be a good testimony. and it releases me from being controlled by the money.


Proverb11

²⁴ One person gives freely, yet gains even more;
    another withholds unduly, but comes to poverty.

²⁵ A generous person will prosper;
    whoever refreshes others will be refreshed.

²⁶ People curse the one who hoards grain,
    but they pray God’s blessing on the one who is willing to sell.

You alone are my portion and my cup

Fresh picked May flowers from the road side of Roxbury, CT.

So simple....and so refreshing

A walk in the spring in Forest Park.

Beauty is everywhere.

^{Psalm 16: 5} Lord, you alone are my portion and my cup;

you make my lot secure.
⁶ The boundary lines have fallen for me in pleasant places;
surely I have a delightful inheritance.
⁷ I will praise the Lord, who counsels me;
even at night my heart instructs me.
⁸ I keep my eyes always on the Lord.
With him at my right hand, I will not be shaken. 

My favorite C.S. LEWIS quotes

If you look for truth, you may find comfort in the end; if you look for comfort you will not get either comfort or truth only soft soap and wishful thinking to begin, and in the end, despair.
C. S. Lewis


Nothing that you have not given away will ever be really yours.
C. S. Lewis

No one ever told me that grief felt so like fear.
C. S. Lewis
Some people feel guilty about their anxieties and regard them as a defect of faith but they are afflictions, not sins. Like all afflictions, they are, if we can so take them, our share in the passion of Christ.
C. S. Lewis
The long, dull, monotonous years of middle-aged prosperity or middle-aged adversity are excellent campaigning weather for the devil.
C. S. Lewis

We all want progress, but if you're on the wrong road, progress means doing an about-turn and walking back to the right road; in that case, the man who turns back soonest is the most progressive.
C. S. Lewis

Thy Word

Romans 15

 ¹ We who are strong ought to bear with the failings of the weak and not to please ourselves. ² Each of us should please our neighbors for their good, to build them up. ³ For even Christ did not please himself but, as it is written: “The insults of those who insult you have fallen on me.”^[a] 4 For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through the endurance taught in the Scriptures and the encouragement they provide we might have hope.
 ⁵ May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you the same attitude of mind toward each other that Christ Jesus had, ⁶ so that with one mind and one voice you may glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.
 ⁷ Accept one another, then, just as Christ accepted you, in order to bring praise to God. ⁸ For I tell you that Christ has become a servant of the Jews^[b] on behalf of God’s truth, so that the promises made to the patriarchs might be confirmed ⁹ and, moreover, that the Gentiles might glorify God for his mercy. As it is written:
   “Therefore I will praise you among the Gentiles;
   I will sing the praises of your name.”^[c]
 10 Again, it says,
   “Rejoice, you Gentiles, with his people.”^[d]
 11 And again,
   “Praise the Lord, all you Gentiles;
   let all the peoples extol him.”^[e]
 12 And again, Isaiah says,
   “The Root of Jesse will spring up,
   one who will arise to rule over the nations;
   in him the Gentiles will hope.”^[f]
13 May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.

http://www.etsy.com/By the way, i just opened an Etsy account .....
Nothing in there yet. But soon it will be....

The Beatitudes

Matthew 5

Introduction to the Sermon on the Mount

 ¹ Now when Jesus saw the crowds, he went up on a mountainside and sat down. His disciples came to him, ² and he began to teach them.

The Beatitudes

    He said:

   ³ “Blessed are the poor in spirit,
   for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
⁴ Blessed are those who mourn,
   for they will be comforted.
⁵ Blessed are the meek,
   for they will inherit the earth.
⁶ Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness,
   for they will be filled.
⁷ Blessed are the merciful,
   for they will be shown mercy.
⁸ Blessed are the pure in heart,
   for they will see God.
⁹ Blessed are the peacemakers,
   for they will be called children of God.
¹⁰ Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness,
   for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

   ¹¹ “Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. ¹² Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

---------------------------------------------------------------

There are only a few people whom i really respect and admire who posses these qualities...

sometimes its just so hard to see it in anyone, and i also do not believe those are blessings sometimes. Who wants to be poor in spirit? who wants to be meek and mourn? ....the culture nowadays is about me me me and showing off all the talents they have. And sure i admit i like the attentions and all the goodies this earth can offer; but the Holy Spirit always reminded me the old flesh is what He wants me to die to....and his hands is severe sometimes...

thoughts.....

"You can't get second things by putting them first;  you can get second things only by putting first things first"
CS LEWIS


All of us are homesick for Eden.
We yearn to return to a land we've never known.
Deep is the need to go back to the Garden,
A burning so strong, for a place we belong,
A place that we know is home.
FREDERICK BUECHNER


I need Sabbath.

message from TSC

6/21's tuesday nite sermon by Pastor Crandall is so powerful and anointed.
Fight our fears...
and i am glad i am not the only one...even pastors go through those very dreaded dark period of their ministry and inner life.

Pls listen to it who ever visit my tiny corner of truth in this vast world of cyber space.


TSC sermons